Addison County VT

Biography of Henry I. Purdy

HENRY I. PURDY. In the year 1842 some eight or ten families emigrated from Vermont and settled in Jackson County, Illinois, forming what was and is known today as Vergennes Colony. Isham Purdy’s family, consisting of father, mother and seven children, formed a part of this colony-three boys and four girls. Henry I., the subject of this sketch, being the oldest son. Edwin P. married and has made his home in Carbondale, Illinois, and has been extensively engaged in the lumber business for the last twenty years. Charles W. Purdy, the third son, married and settled in the old neighborhood … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Capt. Gordon Munsill

Captain Gordon Munsill was born in Windsor, Conn., October 26, 1760, served all through the Revolutionary War, and soon after its close married Olive Carver, of Bolton, Conn., and came to Bristol with his wife and two children, arriving March 21, 1789. He had been in town the previous year, made some improvements and built a log house on his farm, purchased of Timothy Rogers, and now owned by E. C. Powell. He was appointed by the Legislature a collector of the first land tax in Bristol, was a selectman of the town seven years, a justice of the peace … Read more

Biographical Sketch of M. H. Welch

Welch, M. H., Middlebury, was born in Ireland, County Sligo, on September 14, 1820. He came to America with his parents in 1830, and settled in Brandon, Rutland county, Vt. He received his education in the public schools of this town, and remained on the farm until eighteen years of age. He then went into a shop to learn the machinist trade, and remained in the same shop for about eight years. He was married in 1844 to Harriet A. Hubbard, who was a native of Windsor county, Vt. He came to Middlebury, Vt., in 1849, and there worked for … Read more

Addison County, Vermont Census

  1790 Addison County, Vermont Census Free 1790 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial  1790 Addison County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1790 Census Transcription (partial) Addison Township Hosted at Census Guide 1790 U.S. Census Guide 1800 Addison County, Vermont Census Free 1800 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com – Ancestry Free Trial  1800 Addison County, Census (images and index) $ Free 1800 Census Transcription (partial) Shoreham Township Hosted at Census Guide 1800 U.S. Census Guide 1810 Addison County, Vermont Census Free 1810 Census Form for your Research Hosted at Ancestry.com … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Norman C. Brooks

Brooks, Norman C., New Haven, was born in the town of Middlebury, Addison county, Vt., on October 20, 1824. He is a manufacturer of edged tools. He married Emily Atwood, who, was a daughter of Isaac and Betsey (Farr) Atwood, of Brandon, Vt. They have no children. Norman C. was a son of Barzeliel and Polly (Crane) Brooks, who were natives of Caanan, Conn. His father was a blacksmith by trade, a trade which he learned in his native State. Hesettled in the town of New Haven, Vt., in 1818, where he worked at his trade for ten years; he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Marsh Douglass

The same year James Marsh Douglass, from Cornwall, Conn., pitched in the south part of the town on a lot afterwards occupied by Elias Douglass, and later still by Eli Stevens. He probably remained here most of the time until 1784, when he brought his family from Connecticut. He owned about five hundred acres in different lots in this vicinity, and apparently intended to have his sons settle about him. He died, however, in 1790, and the estate was divided among his sons.

Biographical Sketch of Gilman Caldwell

Caldwell, Gilman, Bristol, was born in the town of Ware, N. H., on August 26, 1812. He was a son of Isaac J. and Sarah (Richards) Caldwell. His father was one of the prominent men of the town of Ware, N. H., and was a son of James Caldwell, who was a Revolutionary patriot, participating in the battles of Bunker Hill and Bennington, and was a resident of New Boston, N. H. Gilman’s parents settled in Lincoln, Vt., about 1839. He has been engaged in the manufacture of shingles, and also in the lumber business in general. He made the … Read more

Addison Vermont – Military

The part taken by the early inhabitants of this town in the wars of the Revolution and 1812 has been described in preceding pages; but it may be added that the descendants of Addison’s pioneers fully sustained the records of their ancestors for bravery and patriotism, when the country was threatened with internal war. Men and money were freely supplied for the preservation of the Union, and many fell in defense of their country. The following list gives the names of those who enlisted in the town in Vermont organizations, as compiled by the adjutant-general Volunteers for three years credited … Read more

Biography of Lieut. Benjamin Everest

Lieutenant Benjamin Everest came with his father to Addison when he was sixteen years old; his father’s name was also Benjamin, and Zadock was his brother. He is said to have been a man of prowess and courage, and with his brother was conspicuous in aiding Allen and Warner to drive out the “Yorkers” from the county. On receipt of news of the battle of Lexington, Everest repaired to Allen’s headquarters, and was given a lieutenant’s commission. He was with Allen when he entered the fort at Ticonderoga, and went with Warner to the capture of Crown Point. After Allen … Read more

Biography of Nathaniel Higbee

Higbee, Nathaniel, Monkton, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in Monkton, Vt., on January 10, 1831. He was married in 1854 to Eliza A. Patterson, who was born in England in 1832. They have had four children born to them — Mary Louise (born in 1857 ; was married in 1878 to Albert Baill; she died in 1882, leaving one daughter — Edith), Etta I. (was born in 1859 and died in 1879), Wilbur E. (was born in 1863), and Frederick N. (was born in 1868). Eliza A. Higbee was a daughter of William and Mary A. Patterson, who were … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Hamblin

Daniel Hamblin came to Bridport from Guilford, Conn., when there were but two families in the township. After the war broke out he returned to Guilford, enlisted in the Continental service and served till the cessation of hostilities, when he soon after returned to Bridport and located upon the farm now owned by J. T. Fletcher. His son Alexander, a noted hunter and trapper, succeeded to the homestead. Hiram E., son of Alexander, now resides in the town.

Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah Lee

Jeremiah Lee was an early settler in town; had a family of eight children. Two only were sons, Prosper and Gay W. He was a farmer; also a constable and collector of taxes many years. He lived on the place his grandson, Wilber Hamilton, now occupies. Mrs. Sarah Lee Hemenway is also a descendant. Captain Lee died in 1843, aged seventy-one years.

The Middlebury Campus

1905 Inaugural issue of the Middlebury Campus Newspaper

The Middlebury Campus was a newspaper published by the Middlebury college since 1905 and most issues from 1905-2007 have been placed online digitally. You may read, search, print, or download these papers. The paper when it originally came out included obituaries of past alumni and attendees, so if your ancestor attended Middlebury College it’s possible there is an obituary published within its pages.

Biographical Sketch of Locklin Wainwright

Wainwright, Locklin, Middlebury, was born in Salisbury, Addison county, Vt., on April 13, 1813. His parents were William and Annie (Baldwin) Wainwright. William Wainwright was born in Middlebury, Conn., in 1782, and came with his father, Jonathan Wainwright, to Addison county, Vt., about 1803. He settled on a place adjoining that of his father, where he spent the remainder of his days. He had a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom but two are now living — Alanson, now a resident of Brandon, Vt., and Locklin. He died on January 2, 1858. Locklin was educated in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gideon Carpenter

Gideon Carpenter, from Bennington, Vt., located in 1802 upon the farm now occupied by his son Isaiah. He had four children, viz. Ruth, who married Daniel Jackson ; Roxana, who married Erasmus Gulley Truman, a resident of Vergennes, and Isaiah. Gideon died in 1803 or ’04, aged eighty-four years.

Biographical Sketch of Homer W. Dewey

Dewey, Homer W., Middlebury, was born in Whiting, Addison county, Vt., on May 10, 1828. His parents were Truman and Elizabeth (Pratt) Dewey. Truman Dewey was born in Connecticut, and came to Addison county, Vt., with his mother and her family about 1785, settling in West Salisbury, Vt., and cleared a place there. He was a farmer and lived in various towns, and was a justice of the peace for many years. He had a family of two daughters and six sons, five of whom are now living. He died on April 1, 1864. Homer W. Dewey was educated in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Ellery Greene

Greene, William Ellery, Vergennes, was born in Vergennes, Vt., on August 2, 1810. He has been a member of the common council, a commissioner, and also a quartermaster in the militia. He served five years as an apprentice at the tailor trade, and at the age of twenty-one years he went to New York city as a journeyman, and in 1833 he returned to Vergennes, Vt., where lie has since engaged in the merchant tailoring business, and also is connected with a large lumber business, and is now largely interested in the manufacture of scales and the raising of blooded … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George F. O. Kimball

Kimball, George F. O., Vergennes, was born in Burlington, Vt., in 1841. He has served as deputy sheriff and constable for nine years, and chairman of the board of listers for nine years, and a member of the board of water commissioners for three years; represented his town in the Legislature in 1882 and 1883, and was appointed postmaster in 1885, a position which he now fills. He was married in 1862 to Roxey C. Champion, of Vergennes, Vt. They have had three children born to them — George F., Chas. P., and Mary A. Chas. P. died June 3, … Read more

Biography of Franklin D. Barton

BARTON, FRANKLIN D. The family of Barton was among the first settlers of the town of Waltham. Andrew Barton was the first settler on the farm now owned by A. B. Rose. His son, Andrew Barton, jr., was the first town clerk and also the first justice of the peace. He was a well-educated man for his time, with native talents of a high order. He died in 1802, in the prime of life, aged forty-one years. William Barton, son of Andrew Barton, represented the town in the Legislature in the year 1532; George Barton, in the years 1833, ’34, … Read more